An inter-sectoral analysis by geographic area of the need for and the supply and utilisation of health services in Ireland

The objective of this study is to provide an understanding of the supply of and interaction between health and social care services delivered in different sectors (acute hospitals: primary and community care; long-term care; informal care at home) in Ireland to inform the Governments policy of transferring activity and resources from the acute hospital system to other settings. This project will analyse the relative importance of factors within and outside acute hospitals that determine inpatient length of stay. While earlier studies included hospital and patient characteristics in analysing Irish hospital performance (Gannon 2008;O'Reilly et al. 2009;Keegan and Smith 2013) , this will be the first Irish study to include the supply of and need for care outside hospitals in analysis of hospital performance. Policy measures to improve hospital efficiency, if designed without such analysis, risk penalising hospitals for factors outside their control and risk discharging patients without adequate community supports and care. This analysis will assist policy makers by identifying local areas with greater need for primary, community and long-term care services.

Award Date

19 June 2014

Award Value

€318,669

Principal Investigator

Dr Samantha Smith

Host Institution

Economic and Social Research Institute

Scheme

Health Research Awards